Hallowed Titan Returns

Shun roared as he leaned and arm back, thrusting his body forward as he launched Ignacio through the air. His mouth and eyelids peeled open, drying as he streaked through the air.

He slowed, glancing down and blinking rapidly. He was just past the Hallowed Titan, the monster staring up at him. He flipped through the air, time seeming to slow as he began to fall. Chest first, arms open, a snarl on his lip as he stared the Hallowed Titan down.

“Give me back my sister.”

He thrust his arms forward, vines whipping from them and wrapping around the Titan’s crystal crown. He ripped himself forward, arms wide open as he shot towards the Titan’s head. It shrieked, reaching up a giant hand and grabbing the vines, tearing them off.

Damn you.

The vines broke from his fingers, drying and withering as they fell. He opened his hands as the Titan reached for him, and a pair of fire javelins ignited in them. He closed his eyes, seeing the futures dance in his vision like lights in the city view of Grandyne. Like how they looked that early morning with Koharu on the rooftop. He smiled, opening his eyes and barrel rolling out the way. The Titan’s hand careened past him a moment later. He raised his arms, and they grew larger. Black fur with orange stripes sprouted from them as his sleeves ripped, claws curving from his fingers tips. He yelled as he swung his arms down, digging the fire javelins into the Hallowed Titan’s chest.

The creature shrieked, reaching for him again. He pulled, catapulting himself up and over the Titan’s shoulder. More vines curled from his fingers as he fell down the monster’s back, ground careening towards him. He snarled as he closed his eyes, sensing the Hallowed Titan Aspect. He grinned, eyes opening as his hands sprouted jagged black crystals. His body swelled as he screamed, the ground seconds away when his form erupted in a cloud of fire and black smoke.

He stumbled forward, turning to find the Hallowed Titan staring at him, the Magma Drake at its side.

He glanced down at his body. His Werewolf hands were now coated in spiky black crystals, his claws made of the stuff, too. His body was coated in black fur that shimmered like glass, orange and white streaking across it. And his legs, while in Daichi’s Werewolf form, were plated with Shun’s roots.

He grinned, slamming a fist into his hand. The impact sent a bang across the plane, echoing like one of Beltran’s rifle shots.

Wow, that was fast, he thought. Must be Daichi’s Aspect helping with that.

He probably would’ve been faster if he had Koharu’s. He turned his head, spotting the Manticore chase a little blue comet that raced around it, opening a series of blue portals as Shun closed in from the ground.

Just be safe, he thought.

He turned back to the Hallowed Titan as it lunged for him, the Magma Drake scurrying on all fours and circling around him. He closed his eyes, opening them again and watching all the various Hallowed Titan possibilities converge into one. He stomped a foot forward, ducking under the punch it threw and smashing it in the side with his own.

It fell over as the Magma Drake leapt for him, its molten teeth spraying lava. He ducked, grabbing its back leg as it soared over him. He turned, using the momentum to slam the Drake onto the Hallowed Titan’s head. The force knocked the Titan back down, the white crystals on its head impaling the Drake. The reptile thrashed around, its roars echoing. But it slowed, its orange glow fading. And its body crumbled to ash.

Ignacio’s hand began to glow orange as he lifted it, turning it over.

Nice.

He clenched it into a fist, the crystal glowing brighter as he slammed it into the Hallowed Titan’s face. It knocked the Titan back into the ground, and he was raising it again when three giant arrows struck him in the chest.

He took a step back, looking up to find the Seraphs forming a ring around him, each with a ranged weapon of some kind pointed at him. One held a rifle, the one ahead of him holding a long bow, and the other three carrying pairs of clockwork pistols.

“Big mistake,” he said.

He raised a hand, a bright white and orange glow radiating from within.

“Rain hell!” one of the Seraphs shouted.

And they all began firing at him. He bared his teeth in pain as they ripped through skin, but he kept his hand raised.

This is nothing, he thought, his bared teeth widening to a grin. This is easy.

He lowered his head, and his eyes widened. A giant black portal opened on the ground, its border glowing with orange flames.

“Clear, clear!” a Seraph shouted.

Ignacio thrust his hand upward with a roar, and a giant black crystal cracking with volcanic orange rocketed out the portal. It smashed through one of the Seraphs, leaving a torn bat-wing to fall to the ground.

I’m sorry, he said, lifting his hand and throwing another. It ripped through another Seraph, a dark, comet-like tail following it.

Ignacio glared at the Manticore as it fought with Shun, the two exchanging blows on the ground as Koharu circled above.

On the Sentinel’s back he could make out a series of red flashes, then orange.

Kiyomi, he thought, snarling.

He lumbered towards them, his speed picking up when something smashed into the back of his head, nearly toppling him over.

He stumbled, turning as the Hallowed Titan roared and slammed a fist into the side of Ignacio’s jaw. He turned with the blow, dropping to all fours and leaping away.

Damned Titan.

How much could the thing take before tiring? He smiled, the monster panting as it began walking towards him.